4. Emilio
“Okay, is everyone set on their teams?” Marcus’s strong voice interrupts my wandering thoughts.
With a chorus of yeses, people start to break off into our individual groups.
War’s experience has been useful, as have some of the more seasoned advisors.
It’s one of my favorite parts of the Council.
We don’t simply hand down orders, but elicit opinions so that we can move forward in the best way possible.
After giving Tennant and Roman quick kisses, I move toward my team. I take a moment to breathe as I cross the warehouse where we’re all getting ready. We suit up with bulletproof vests, bodycams, and everything else we’ll need, but fuck if the adrenaline doesn’t start flooding my system already.
This is the first time I’ve ever led a solo mission, which is why we’ve arranged the teams and targets like we have. While Roman has spent his entire life training to take the mantle, and Tennant has years of experience, I was a na?ve nineteen-year-old dropped into a world I didn’t understand.
Thank fuck Master found me. I would have been miserable, even surrounded by math. This is where I’m supposed to be, but that doesn’t mean I magically have the experience to lead a major mission on my own. Not yet, at least.
After the driver, I’m next in line to take a spot in the van. Master takes a seat beside me, his steady presence and expertise are a comfort. He helps blunt the edges of feeling like an imposter instead of a Council member. The rest of the soldiers pile in, and then we’re off.
A constant barrage of thoughts run through my head as we draw closer to our target.
It’s the smallest, but no less important than the others.
While it’s a residence, it’s not in the best area.
Roman and Tennant are covering the Senator’s upscale residence—the veneer, as Atticus called it—and the warehouse.
Master must be able to tell I’m going crazy, because he reaches over and squeezes my leg.
The simple reminder he’s here helps me relax—slightly.
Having his experience is a comfort. I lay my hand on his, trying to show my appreciation the only way I can, considering we’re on open comms with the control room right now.
The vehicle slows. We’re not far from the target, but as we come to a stop, a soldier opens the van door and Nicolo jumps in. That slight pause is the only break before we continue. Turning to face him, I gesture for him to take the floor.
“Nothing new, Boss. Everything is set for when we get there. I did have to take out one of the outer perimeter guards, so they’re down to just three. It shouldn’t raise an alarm before we get started, though.”
I nod my thanks as Ignacio comes over the line, talking directly to our earbuds. “You’ll have ten minutes from start to finish. Everything is looking good from here, Team One.”
I swallow hard as I go through the reminders in my head.
The security will be hooked directly to the Senator, which is why, instead of hitting all three targets simultaneously, we made a slight change.
Teams Two and Three will hit at the same time, but I’m getting a head start to hopefully draw resources my way.
Marcus felt it would mitigate risks instead of putting them on edge.
After all, who would be crazy enough to take out three targets?
Yeah, that’s us. Fucking hell. I hope we all make it out…
Ours is a battering ram approach versus the others taking a more cautious route, so we head right for the front gates, not slowing down. Thanks to whatever hacker is in charge, they open at the perfect time. There’s no guard, so that must be who Nicolo took out.
We pull to a screeching stop in front of the house as “Go, go, go!” is yelled over comms. Master covers my back as the other soldiers engage with the enemy. There aren’t as many as I thought there would be, but fuck if Marcus wasn’t right: nobody was expecting it, and they’re scrambling.
“Flank One, you have incoming,” Ignacio says calmly. I hear the gunshots going off, but I can’t spare a second of time to question whether they’ll need help. No, I have a very specific mission while the soldiers take care of other shit. “Flank Two, pull back slightly.”
From the way the gunshots become more erratic, it sounds like our men have already overrun most of the security here.
Unsurprisingly, the Senator didn’t pick people based on their skills—no, that would be too dangerous to his narcissistic ways.
Fucker only has himself to blame when we light up the skies.
I take the lit Molotov cocktail from Master and throw it through the first window, going down the row as he supplies me with more. They’re dirty and cheap to make, but effective.
“You have two minutes left.” Ignacio’s sharp command spurs me to go faster. We still have five more areas to cover. “Flanks One and Two, you are good to set your sides ablaze.”
I’m covering the inside with the Molotov cocktails, while the soldiers throw gasoline on the outside before setting it on fire and running for the van. I can barely hear Ignacio’s commands over the roar of the angry flames in front of me.
By the time I wrap up, there are so many points of ignition that there’s no way they’ll be able to extinguish them all. I hesitate for a moment, surveying the monster fire we’ve created, and it ignites something inside me. It flames the monster that’s been forced into silence for so long.
I wish I could see the asshole’s face when he surveys the damage. He may have thought that he won by taking our most vulnerable, but fuck that. We’re the Council, and we don’t fuck around—and I’m more than happy to let him have a taste of Death before we drag him into the streets.
Master taps my shoulder, and I turn to follow him back to our transportation.
As I haul myself into the van, all I can think is that I’m ready to get home.
Especially because there was a special text from Daddy before we left.
I wonder if Master received one too, because I’m more than ready to claim my prize…